I understand you delima - trust me. I'm just thinking - don't rush into it and buy axles just yet....the debate is still out on how tough the 24 spline with a stock open carrier is vs 10 spline (I think the carrier is still the weak link) - when you start locking the rear end, then the 24 splines shine (I wouldn't lock a 10 spline rear end), but as long as the rear end is open, I'm not sure your getting a lot for your time and money - I think one wheel will spin before you break something.
Hopefully someone with better experience can answer - if your just buying the 24 spline carrier then I would think the gears would need to be setup again - i.e. the mesh between the pinion and ring gear - maybe if you have a complete third member then it could possibly be bolt in since the relationship between the pinion and ring gear remain fixed, but - but how much can you get a complete 24 spline diff for? A trutrac for 24 splines is only $431 at the link below - re-use your pinion, ring gear and the thirdmember housing - the tru-trac replaces the guts of the diff and its stronger - someone would have to set the gear backlash again for you (thats something I figure a pro should do - not exactly sure of the cost) but then you would have a much stronger diff, a limited slip - you say your not hardcore wheeling, so it might be a good match.
This is what I would love to do, BUT I've got a non ABS truck and I would have to buy ABS hubs to fit the 24 spline axles, so more money.....I think GBR makes an 24 spline that I can use - I don't think rovertracks does, but if they are a couple hundred cheaper, it might be worth the hub swap.
Maybe if you can find stock 24 spline axles cheap and throw in the tru-trac for 24 splines, that would be a good combo (instead of 24 splines + 24 spline diff). But I think your headed in the right direction - some would say to run the equipment you have until it fails you, then you know what to upgrade, but that's a sinking feeling when it does break.
But honestly, lets face it, you can't afford a girlfriend and a land rover at the same time....LOL...one of them has to go!!!!
http://www.drivetrainspecialists.com...ndrover-1.html
Anyways, good luck - and hey, enjoy the truck for a while, I've got 10 splines with open diffs still and I wheel the crap out of mine, I just don't get too crazy with the skinny pedal....
Steve
ps - personally I think the new color of your truck ROCKS!!!
